People sleep fewer hours than they did many years ago. This is because we tend to work longer hours compared to the past, and this results in fatigue.
People tend to sleep less compared to the past because they are expected to work more. This is because the job market is more competitive than ever before, and workers have to get more done or they may fall behind or be replaced by someone else. This means that people have to get up earlier and do not return home until late in the evening, thus cutting into their sleep. For example, in some metropolises such as HCM City, many restaurants and office buildings stay open until midnight, and some even operate 24/7 to accommodate the demand of a bustling economy. Consequently, there is a significant portion of the population working late into the night to meet deadlines or fulfill job responsibilities, leaving them with limited time for adequate sleep. As a result, they do not have time to relax, and this disrupts their sleep pattern.
The primary effect of this trend is fatigue. That is to say, large sections of the population do not get the required 8 hours, and this results in a high percentage of them being too tired to live their lives effectively. For instance, at work, employees suffering from chronic fatigue may struggle to maintain productivity levels. Their struggle to concentrate and focus due to exhaustion can lead to missed deadlines, errors in work, and a general decline in overall performance. Additionally, chronic fatigue can extend its reach beyond the workplace, affecting various aspects of life. For example, students may find themselves falling asleep while studying at school, further illustrating the negative effect of fatigue in society.
In conclusion, people are more sleep deprived than in previous generations due to longer working hours and the effect is that many are chronically tired to the point of exhaustion.